The Skechers GoRun Ultra Road shoes have since been updated with the Ultra Road 2 model. Its predecessor was the Skechers Ultra Road. What’s the difference between the Ultra and the plain ole’ Road? New drainage holes and a slightly different fit represent the biggest changes. The neutral shoe is a maximalist trainer suitable for walking or running in wet conditions. If you want or need some extra cushion underfoot, the Ultra Road offers a comfortably padded platform for whatever activity you plan on tackling. While the shoe is mainly intended for road running, it’s got a few features that make it a worthy trail option. Is the GoRun worth considering? Read our in-depth review to find out.

Editor's Pros & Cons

Pros

Very durable

Ultra comfortable cushioning

Excellent impact protection

Responsive

Cons

A little heavy for some

Wide design felt sloppy for some runners

Outsole

Outsole

The GoRun Ultra’s outsole is made of two types of high-wear rubber. A combination of carbon and blown rubber make up an outsole that delivers the perfect mix of traction and durability. You’ll also notice the sole has some circular-shaped pods. These are GOimpulse sensor pods. They add additional cushioning and impact control along with an extra bit of bounce. Despite the fact that the Ultra is a road shoe, the outsole is perfectly suited for tackling a varied terrain. Feet are adequately protected by the chunky midsole and the squishy outsole.

Midsole

Midsole

The Skechers brand shoe has a thick dual-layer midsole composed of Resalyte foam. The maximalist middle layer of the GoRun feels a lot more luxurious compared to its predecessor. The cushioning is soft and forgiving, but there’s also a firm top-layer that delivers a feedback-fueled ride. The cushioning covers the entirety of the midsole, which provides total protection. The highly cushioned midsole is comparable to the Hoka Clifton, though the Ultra Road has a softer feel overall. Something to note is that not every reviewer liked the rocker-style of the midsole. Many found the design a little too reminiscent of Skechers’ ‘Shape Up’ shoes.

Upper

Upper

The GoRun’s upper is super durable, is made with a quick-drying material, and has a generously sized toe box. Thanks to new drainage holes in the heel and sides of the shoe, the Ultra drains very quickly. A perforated sock liner also helps guide water out of the shoe. You’ll get your pick of two types of laces to use with the GoRun. One traditional pair and a pair of stretch laces. The woven FitKnit upper is new and offers greater support and flexibility than before. Ventilation has been greatly improved, too. Overall, the Ultra is wider than its predecessor.

Weight

Weight

The shoe offers a lightweight design, which is a pleasant surprise for a maximalist trainer. The women’s version weighs about 8.29 ounces and the men’s version about 10.3 ounces. A few reviewers said that they found the shoe a little chunky compared to other highly cushioned trainers, but very few users complained about the weight of the shoe. There’s a lot of midsole cushioning in the GoRun Ultra, but the clunky feel has more to do with the design of the shoe than it does its actual mass.

Breathability

Breathability

The Ultra features a quick-drying upper made of FitKnit material. The woven design is exceptionally breathable, and reviewers loved that the shoe drained water fast. A few reviewers did complain that the shoe felt waterlogged when running in wet weather, but the majority of reviewers seemed pleased with the updated drainage hole design of the Ultra Road. The perforated sock liner is a great help in controlling the moisture content of the shoe’s interior. If you live in a rainy city, having a shoe that allows water to drain out is useful. Drainage holes prevent waterlogging and allow your socks and feet to dry quickly.

On the trails, the perforated liner and drainage holes make tackling freshly rained out trails a lot less intimidating. Step in deep puddles of water without worrying about soaking yourself to the bone.

Comfort

Comfort

The majority of reviewers characterized the Skechers shoe as very comfortable. That likely has a lot to do with the shoe’s very thick midsole cushioning. A wider design also helps to accommodate a greater number of runners. A few reviewers still found the Ultra a little narrow, but most were happy with the width change. Drainage holes also help the shoe to shed water so you can pay more attention to your run and focus less attention on your feet. The thick cushioning isn’t just protective, it’s forgiving on the feet and makes for a super pleasant ride.

Who might benefit from extra cushioning? Runners worried about the repeated stress of running. Previously injured runners or those prone to injury. Runners with sensitive feet. Runners who just want a bit of extra luxury underfoot.

Style

Style

The Skechers road shoe features a unique design. Shark fins appear to be floating across the midsole as if they’re peeking out of the water. The shoe comes in several bright and flashy colors that include orange/black and teal/neon. Reviewers did feel that the style selection was limited but appreciated the colorful variations available and the quirky design of the Ultra Road. At first glance, the Ultra looks more like a trail shoe than it does a dedicated road shoe. The look is playful but rugged.

Durability

Durability

The new FitKnit woven upper is incredibly sturdy, and reviewers appreciated that the highly cushioned midsole didn’t seem to lose its bounce and softness after many miles in training. The outsole, too, is quite thick and covered with tough rubber. The Ultra Road manages to combine softness and durability in its outsole. The bottom of the shoe is soft, with pods for extra padding, but that squishy character doesn’t mean the rubber is prone to premature wear and tear. Regardless, there’s enough outsole material to last through months of training.

Reviewers found no weak spots in terms of durability. For the price, the Skechers GoRun offers incredible value in terms of comfort and longevity.

Protection

Protection

The Ultra Road features reflective detailing. It’s something most shoes should have to ensure you stay seen when the light fades. If you’re running at dusk, it’s easy to forget to bring a light, and even if you try to time your run just right, there will be times where you get stuck running in the dark unexpectedly. While it pays to be prepared, knowing your shoes are reflective is a little reassuring. Don’t let your guard down, though. Be vigilant on an evening and early morning runs.

The Ultra Road also delivers maximum cushioning for total protection from heel to toe. In addition to the well-cushioned Resalyte midsole, the outsole features pods that provide even more padding. The maximalist design makes the Skechers GoRun a suitable choice for high-mileage, long-distance running. Worry less about your joints and focus on the miles ahead.

Responsiveness

Responsiveness

The Skechers Ultra is well-cushioned, but its design still provides plenty of feedback. The outsole is composed of two rubbers for maximum protection from wear and tear but also features pods to add cushioning and enhance the shoe’s responsiveness. The midsole’s dual-layer design incorporates different densities of Resalyte foam to provide a soft landing area with firmness to provide a responsive ride.

Support

Support

The neutral road shoe features an incredibly supportive FitKnit upper. The upper offers far more support than the previous version of the Ultra Road. A few very narrow footed runners found the fit a bit sloppy. Skechers made the GoRun slightly wider than before, so there’s more room width-wise to accommodate those with larger feet. That does affect the fit for runners with smaller feet, though.

The upper fit snugly for most reviewers, but many felt the shoe’s midfoot lacked arch support. The neutral shoe isn't designed to prevent pronation, however.

Terrain

Terrain

It looks like a trail shoe, but it’s made for road running. That being said, the Ultra Road could certainly handle a little off-road running. The road shoe features trail style and durability mixed with road-specific features like full-impact protection and support. The outsole is incredibly resistant without skimping on traction and grip. Pound the pavement or bound downhill on trails and you’ll feel comfortable and supported either way. The drainage holes are a nice bonus, too. You can step in a puddle on the street or on freshly rained on trails and stay dry, either way. You probably don't want to wear these for winter runs, though, because of the super ventilated design.

Price

Price

The Skechers GoRun shoes are super affordable. It’s no surprise for a shoe made by a company that offers a wide selection of low-cost running shoes. The lower price doesn’t mean you miss out on durability and high-tech features, though. The GoRun is well-built and offers the same quality of ride as a more expensive trainer. The design doesn’t look cheap, either.

Traction

Traction

The Ultra Road delivers better traction than its predecessor with a thick outsole that combines carbon and blown rubber. Made for the road, the GoRun is perfectly suited to handling off-road conditions. We wouldn’t choose these for a rough and tumble adventure on highly technical trails, but they’ll do the job for weekend visits to the nearest trailhead.

Flexibility

Flexibility

Reviewers appreciated that the Skechers shoe was flexible considering its maximalist design. The outsole and midsole are capable of bending and flexing along with a runner’s foot. The shoe doesn’t feel like Jell-O, though. There’s still some degree of firmness that not only delivers support and stability but responsiveness, as well.

Stability

Stability

The maximalist shoe falls into the neutral category but has features like a firm heel counter that help with overall stability. The upper also includes synthetic overlays that provide additional support and stability. The woven FitKnit upper also delivers targeted support. A few reviewers felt the sloppy fit was a dealbreaker, but these were mainly narrow footed runners who didn’t like the newly widened design of the Ultra Road. The fit is simply too generous for those with smaller feet.

Drop

Drop

The Skechers GoRun has a thick outsole and midsole, so there’s quite a bit of material between your foot and the ground in this shoe. That being said, the drop height is minimal. At 4mm, the Ultra Road is a low-drop shoe. A few online sources list the drop-height incorrectly at 10mm. Runners with a midfoot or forefoot strike will appreciate the low drop height of the Skechers shoe.

Key Features

Bottom Line

The Skechers GoRun Ultra Road is an excellent high-mileage shoe. While it looks like a tough trail shoe, it’s built with road running in mind. Soft trails are more forgiving than pavement, and some runners prefer a soft, ultra-cushioned feel when running the streets. The GoRun offers runners a maximally cushioned midsole that not only offers impact protection but delivers a surprisingly responsive ride, too. The affordable trainer is incredibly durable thanks to its high-quality components including its dual-rubber outsole. Reviewers agree that the Ultra Road is a comfortable option for training in all types of weather, conditions, and tackling long distances.

We recommend the GoRun for runners with slightly wider feet than the norm. Narrow runners might find themselves saddled with a sloppy fit in the Ultra. If you’re looking for an ultra-lightweight shoe, the Road is not for you. For the amount of cushioning it delivers, however, the GoRun Ultra is surprisingly lightweight. There’s very little not to like with this neutral road shoe.